They got their money's worth. About three years ago, officials in Charlestown paid $1 to the Town of North East to buy a used police cruiser. That car has been in service, making hundreds of trips around town for code enforcement and other issues. It was also used by town board members for trips to do town business and attend meetings.

"I miss it," said Charlestown town administrator Wib Pumpaly. About a month ago, town officials bought a new 2014 Scion which replaced the old cruiser. "All I use it for is town business. I take it home but I don't run around in it on weekends," said Pumpaly, who said the new ride is available to all the town board members for official business. The Town bought the Scion for $17,000. It is under warranty for at least three years. Pumpaly said that is a big difference from the cruiser. "That old patrol car frequently required attention. The check engine light would come on," he said. He said since getting the Scion, it has been driven about 700 miles in a month. "We don't put a lot of miles on it. That's 650 times around Charlestown," laughed Pumpaly. The town emblem is on the doors of the new car. "I'm happy with it. But I miss the old car," he said. In other business from the Town of Charlestown: • The town's Christmas tree will be lit on December 6 at 6 p.m. About an hour earlier, Santa will arrive in the town and make his rounds with the Charlestown Fire Company on a fire engine. • The town piers have been winterized. Ice eaters will be submerged to keep ice from forming on the pilings. Pumpaly said the town has been using ice eaters because back in the early 1990s, a pier was damaged when ice formed on the pilings.